Newsletter

Dealers at Jacksonville Boat Show see smooth sailing ahead

Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com --1/27/13 -- Mark Zeigler of Mark Zeigler Yacht Sales talks about sales of higher value yachts and boats at his booth. The 66th Annual Jacksonville Boat Show had a good turnout on the last day of the show in the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013. (The Florida Times-Union, Bob Mack)

Andy Fraden gives Rick Thompson pointers on paddle-board paddling using a teeter board at the All Wet Sports booth.

Photos by Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com Joel Norris smiles after ordering a 2013 version of a Carolina Skiff at the boat show on Sunday. The 2011 version of the same boat is behind him.

Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com --1/27/13 -- People climbed aboard boats or just walked around them as they got a closer look at the boast of all shapes, sizes and prices. The 66th Annual Jacksonville Boat Show had a good turnout on the last day of the show in the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in Jacksonville, FL on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013. (The Florida Times-Union, Bob Mack)

The boats ranged from those powered by a paddle to those that could top 70 mph, thanks to 700 horsepower worth of engines. There were people who just came to look, and those who walked out owning one more boat than they did when they walked in.

The 66th annual Jacksonville Boat Show finished up Sunday afternoon at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Ken Sherwood, manager of the show, said there were 18 dealers displaying 300-400 boats.

The boats went from the $749 kayak to the 32-footer with a $219,000 price tag before the options were added.

Actually, the prices went higher. But yacht broker Mark Zeigler just brought photos of his boats, including the 56-foot Neptunus motor yacht listed at $499,950. And it’s been a good year for him so far.

“I’ve been selling yachts for 24 years,” he said, “and I can’t recall a January where I’ve had four transactions.”

But he does this year. And the increase in sales has a couple of reasons.

“There’s pent-up demand,” he said, “and a lot of sellers have come to grips with where the market is.”

That means they’re dropping their prices. He pointed to a photo of a 74-foot Huckins that had been listed at $800,000.

“We dropped it to $599,000 and got some calls,” he said. “Now we’ve got it at $475,000 and we’re getting lots of calls.’

He also pointed to a 30-foot Catalina sailboat priced at $20,000.

“A few years ago,” he said, “that would have been $50,000. It’s unbelievable.”

But boats were selling. Zeigler had written a contract on a 32-footer that morning for $133,000.

A 19-foot, $33,000 Yamaha jet boat had a handwritten sign on it: “Sold, but can get another.”

Johnny Craig with Stingray Boats stood next to a 24-footer he sold that morning for $49,995. Actually, the buyer just put down a deposit.

“We won’t sell a boat without a test drive,” Craig said. “That way, someone doesn’t go home thinking ‘My God, I just spent $60,000,’ and can’t sleep for two weeks.”

No one had bought the 32-foot Contender with the two 350-hp engines yet. But Clayton Kirkmeyer, president of Backwater 2 Bluewater boat sales in St. Augustine, said he’s had a few people who might be serious about it.

It’s a fishing boat, Kirkmeyer said, something to take out into blue water for kingfish and marlin. It’s priced at $219,000, but Kirkmeyer said it’s easy to add another $150,000 in options. And then you’ll need something to pull it.

“You can tow with a Suburban,” Kirkmeyer said, “but it doesn’t like it. You really need a diesel.”

Throughout the maze of boats, people wandered. Looking, dreaming.

The Alsabrook family drove up from Keystone Heights just to look and let 6-year-old Cooper scamper over the big, shiny boats.

“We love boats, but that’s the real reason,” Kenny Alsabrook said.

Joel Norris pulled the trigger right there at the boat show. He bought an 18-foot Carolina Skiff, though it’ll take about a month for him to get the latest model.

“It’s just something to take the family out on the river, do a little fishing,” he said.